Tag: Amendment

“The Electoral College”, Full transcript of the YouTube Video

The Electoral College: Is it Time to End the Experiment?

A YouTube Commentary, by Jack Charbonneau

US Presidential Candidate, 2020

 

In 1789, practice of citizens directly electing the leader of a country was… limited. Not unknown in the world at that time, a genuine Republic, where power came directly from the People, was not the universal standard throughout the world. The majority of the world was ruled by hereditary monarchs with a “concession” given to the People, in the form of an elected body of SOME sort… to keep the rabble at bay.

Even as our Constitution was being considered, the thought of giving the People the vote for the Executive Officer was terrifying to many. This concern is spoken of in “The Federalist Papers”. How easy it would be for a silver-tongued charlatan to woo the 13 States, especially if the person was fully funded by a foreign adversary.

Anything less than a Republic would be unacceptable after fighting the Revolution. Anything short would dishonor those who died for the cause, and surely lead us back into tyrannical rule. The fear is eloquently expressed in “Federalist 39”-

“It is essential that a Republican government spring from the great body of society, NOT from a small proportion or a favored class. Otherwise, a few tyrannical nobles, exercising their oppressions by a delegation of their powers, might call THEMSELVES ‘republicans’ and claim, for their government, the honorable title of Republic.”

It goes on to rationalize the concept of an “Electoral College”-

“It is sufficient that the persons administering such a government are appointed, either directly or indirectly, by the People and that they hold their appointments… at the People’s pleasure, for a limited period, or during good behavior.”

…either DIRECTLY or IN-DIRECTLY by the People… It is “sufficient“? Wait…

This “experiment” in democracy has been in motion now for over 200 years. Imagine, looking at what has become, now… THEN.

As one reads “Federalist 39” it is easy to forget that the entire article was written in SPECULATION and HYPOTHESIS. No concrete conclusion could be drawn as to how it would go! As I read it, I take for granted that these words, written in argument for a theoretical form of government are now, over 200 years later, FACT.

ALL of it. Every bit of it. It is astonishing how clear these minds were when considering the possible outcomes and pitfalls. The historical precedents drawn upon by these scholars, some now lost to the dungeon of time, seem to have served well as guideposts for forging a new body.

A body not seen before, but envisioned by a few, and longed for by all that hope to see humanity live free, ruled by themselves. Could people rule themselves? Would the People see through the duplicitous nature of a candidate backed by an enemy?

After 200 years of experimentation, we can conclude the answer is- YES!

…but what about Donald Trump?

The PEOPLE of the United States have now, TWICE in twenty years, NOT been fooled and voted the correct way. Seeing through the bitter and divisive 2000 Election cycle, seeing that the term “Compassionate Conservative” was just a feel-good throw-blanket for people on the fence. And knowing the family that George W. Bush came from, the voters said “No!” to the Bush Dynasty and voted for Al Gore. Like myself, most people felt that having someone who was IN The White House for the last 8 years become president, would be beneficial for Our National Security.

And now, with Donald Trump’s blatant disregard for even the smallest of political norms, and his disgusting inability to feel even the slightest compassion for those he perceives as less than himself… EVEN THOUGH it would mean electing ANOTHER CLINTON…. The American people picked the winner. We saw through the Bullshit!

Unfortunately, the “security system” devised 200 years ago could not have imagined the massive amounts of wealth and power held by corporations today. Couple that with unlimited technological advancement, and here we are.

The fear that a majority of the electorate could be fooled into voting for a President that could harm Our nation is what led to the Electoral College. Little did the Framers know, they ensured tyranny’s victory in the end. Now, you don’t need to fool a majority to get what you want. Evil can win even if the majority votes against it.

Evil wins with 46%

The Popular Culture winds turn fast, even faster than the winds in 1789… climate change, I suppose… We must NOT act in terms of popular opinion in the moment. I believe this is NOT a passing fad. In fact, after 18 years of contemplation, a clear conclusion can be made regarding the “American Experiment”–

It IS a success! Mankind CAN govern itself!

“I strongly believe in the response of our citizens, when they are fully informed.” -JFK

In Conclusion-

IF We still believe the betterment of ALL humanity comes from a highly educated electorate, if we commit to steadfastly adhering to the protection of Freedom of Speech, and Freedom of the Press, and we once again, pledge our fates and fortunes, UNITED, I believe the Electoral College can be amended. The strength and beauty of this theoretical form of government, envisioned by god-fearing Men (who were at heart, Humanists) can now be unbridled.

So long as we ALL still hold that fear, that the Framers feared, as ‘gospel’. Our government is only as “good” as its people. Our government is strong only when we are strong TOGETHER. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

Male, Female, Humanity, MANKIND… WE ARE ALL, BUT MEN… we are NOT gods.

But unified, in SPIRIT and in ACTION, Mankind can strive to achieve greatness that would HONOR the Gods of ALL Men.

… not too shabby!

-end

Posted to YouTube on 4 March, 2018. Keep your head UP!!

JC

In the Interest of Full Disclosure…

Running for President of the United States is an honor and a privilege that many people won’t get the opportunity to pursue. I hope offer a real alternative to issues that matter to me, and you reading this starts that ball rolling. But, pursuit of idealist views and a brighter tomorrow are not my only motivation.

Our household income is less than $150,000. When I left my last job in 2008, I became the “housewife”, my wife is the breadwinner. The yearly salary of the job of Commander in Chief (CinC) is THREE times as much. I would be lying if I said this did not have an effect on my decision. I am currently running a “charity”, so to speak, by running the house. I would not necessarily want to start another. My wife and I decided my next job will have to have a salary. I have looked at a couple options, but this one would pay a BIT more…

And when you look at it, the salary of the CinC is pennies to some. Especially when you consider hours worked vs. pay. Look at the last two two-term Presidents. Each, in the span of 8 years, went from middle-aged father to grey-haired granddaddy! The toll this job takes on the person seems to be enormous, and no pay would seem to be a good compensation.

This job demands so much because so much is in their care. It is a HUGE responsibility… it is, after all, the defense of the “last best chance for humanity”.

When we hear about a new candidate for President, it is usually announced via an “exploratory committee” to investigate the possibility, then the wealthy individual has to divest from their companies in order to not enrich themselves through this position.

The position of President has become a “joke” in this way. “Will you run for President?” “I can’t afford the PAY CUT!” “Ha, ha, ha….”

Hmmm…. Good joke. Excuse me while I pawn my guitar so I can put gas in the van until payday this week. Pardon me while I figure out what DECADE I will finally get my mortgage out from underwater and, maybe, break even after all the blood, sweat and tears I’ve put into modernization and renovation. I’ll laugh about that one as I wait in line to pay more for my insulin this year.

My family and I stand to do better financially just from the salaried position of CinC. As I see it, EVERY family will stand to do better, though.
I believe the Consumer Protection Agency is a GREAT thing.
I believe the new tax structure is insane and believe it should be changed in 5 years when the current structure is set to expire.
I believe in paid maternity leave for BOTH parents.
I believe in alternative energy independence for individual residences.
I believe we all have a responsibility to prepare for climate change.
I believe we should offer Statehood to our island nations, to ensure future natural disasters are treated with the same importance as ones that occur in Kansas.
I believe that mental health care, dental, and vision should be included in your insurance.
I believe our public education system is capable of SO MUCH MORE and should be FULLY FUNDED to reignite a desire to become an educator, and to give our future a strong foundation to build upon.

We all have the chance to gain more, just by uniting under the simple idea that we can GOVERN OURSELVES! Whether or not I get the chance to move any piece of legislation, the goal of Ending The Electoral College is sufficient enough for me. Once we remove money from our election system, the rotten smell will slowly disappear, along with the super-pacs and think-tanks.

Let me know what you think. I’m not doing this for my benefit… and that’s not lip service… If I didn’t feel I had a very good idea that can change SO MANY PEOPLE’s lives for the better, I would not be running for ANY office. My wife suggested I start with a House run or Senate bid. That’s how it works. I GET it. I see this as a unique time, and a solution to the our problem became crystal clear to me. One that has not been offered in an achievable way. I need to be finishing my house repairs, tending to my two boys’ needs, caring form my wife so she can be successful in her career as a cardiac nurse, and… AND take care of my newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. I got a full plate as it is. A political career is NOT usually top of my list.

John McCain’s last public speech spoke to me. He spoke of being a rebellious young man, then growing up and finding he needed to give something back to that system that gave him the ABILITY to be that rebellious young man. As an Eagle Scout, I can understand that desire. That love of THIS country, is a beautiful anomaly. People are ready to fight and DIE for the belief that you should be allowed to SPEAK YOUR OPINION FREELY without fear, Right now! Some guy in a bar has had one too many three hours ago and is ready to go…. And EVERYONE has YOUR back. Every time someone wants to shut someone else up, everyone stops and PAYS ATTENTION. Usually, someone shouts “Let ’em speak!”

THAT’S the Country I know. That’s where I come from. And THAT’S the face I want standing at the helm, steering this ship…. not the guy at the bar… BUT, now that I think about it, “he would be BETTER than the LAST TWO CANDIDATES!” “Ha, ha, ha….”

Now, the real wisdom comes from knowing, if that was a joke or not.

Keep your head UP!!

JC

A Call to Amend the Constitution

“…a ‘Constitutional Crisis’…”

We have reached a point in our Country’s evolutionary trajectory where We must make CONCRETE statements about who We ARE and what we WANT to be. A large number of societal issues have been enraged, manipulated by parties, FORIEGN and DOMESTIC, resulting in DIVISION within our common interests. The DIVISION placed between Us has resulted in damages being caused, simply by doing NOTHING.

Doing NOTHING has become both SAFE and PROFITABLE.

A Constitutional Convention

Our INDIVIDUAL identities, both physical/spiritual AND virtual, are VALUABLE . Most often INHERITED from a set of elders, BUT not exclusively. “In order to form a more perfect Union… and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish…” The Freedom to choose one’s individual identity is why we are ALL HERE.

We, as individuals alone, are able to decide our own Identities.

ALL persons should be protected from discrimination based on their Identity. All persons should be allowed to define their identity in Safety.

Being that only an Individual has the right to vote and not a corporation, the protections afforded to an individual should NOT be given to corporations.

End the Electoral College

The protection of the ballot box being compromised by a large enough number of the States’ removing the Liberty of the Electoral College to pick the Executive, the Election of the President shall be determined directly by the Popular Vote of the People and not the Electoral College. A National Restructuring of the electoral process should be researched and developed via Regular Order in Congress, with due consideration given to the equal suffrage in the Senate.

Article II, section I.2 shale be undone.

Article II, section I.3 shall be Amended.

Article II, section I.4 shall be undone and Amended.

The sacred defense of the Reproductive Liberty of ALL People being Our Common Duty, the Right of a Woman to Choose shall be protected.

When our Constitution was written, the Framers stood upon a hill, looking back the same distance we look back Now upon them, and they could STILL SEE a time when Lords and Tyrants decided the Reproductive Rights of ALL. Forgive us, when the winds of change come and some look upon us NOW, and use a well meaning moral law as precedent to enact legislation that limits Reproductive Liberty in the name of the State.

IF we allow the Government the ability to legislate our individual HUMAN right, they can someday decide when you CAN or CANNOT reproduce.

ONE CITIZEN=ONE VOTE

Once a regulated and SECURE voting system is established, voted upon and ratified under Constitutional Law, the ABLILITY to shine light on societal change becomes a tool of the People, wielded DIRECTLY every TWO years.

A CLEAR BEGINING is to re-affirm the control of our collective fates and fortunes lies in the hands of our Citizens. WE have not forgotten, we have been DISTRACTED and forgot that we have to be UNITED for this to work. We must stand TOGETHER and support the core ideals in our founding documents….

…or not. THAT is what must happen. A DISCUSSION on whether THIS, Our Structure of Governance, is a true reflection of what we want it to be.

“To be, rather than appear to be.”

We can do this. Don’t let them convince you that you can’t! They spend millions each election to convince people all across Our Country their vote doesn’t matter.

“All we need to do, is make sure, we keep talking.”

-Stephen Hawking

Keep your head UP!!

YouTube video uploaded

I think it turned out VERY well. I hope you agree.

Busy morning! Kids made it to school, three stores to hit today. Grocery getter extraordinaire! And its raining, so traffic sucks. Mondays are fun.

I’m going to attempt a daily post here and, hopefully soon, start a livestream each day on Twitch.tv/mrcharbonneau. I need to assess my livestreaming tools to see what I can or cannot do. I don’t have much cash available for cameras and mics, so I’ll see how this laptop camera looks. BUT, that will be another day.

Be sure to check out my GoFundMe and Patreon. I’ll keep going if there’s an appetite for an independent, funded by THE PEOPLE, to change the ELECTION SYSTEM. That’s the question, how to pay for this. I’m a stay-at-home-father of two with a wife who is a PICU nurse. (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit… actually CRRT nurse. She specializes in hearts and circulatory… but anyway) I am pretty much doing this on my own as a SECOND JOB.

A second job that I don’t want right now. Don’t have the funding for. Will, in essence, be DOING FOR FREE. Will have a 1:1,000,000 chance of success. And will be the most EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY trying thing I’ve ever done. In 2016 I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I’ve been learning how to diabetes for a couple years now, and for the last 365 days I’ve been successful at not dying! Last year in March I caught an atypical pneumonia, my blood sugar was over 500 and was in the hospital for three days.

It was the best thing that could have happened to me. Seriously. It got me to focus for three days on what I needed to do. Scary, yes. The family was scared, too. Pneumonia sounds horrible! No fun at all.

But, just another reason to change this country for the better. Having a terminal illness sharpens the mind, forces one to ensure priorities are in order. I’m only 39, but I know how I will likely die- “complications due to T1 diabetes”.

…that or “random bus”. Details. whatever.

Keep your head UP!!